Monday Bolts – 11.9.09
Darnell Mayberry gives his thoughts on the Thunder’s stomping: “The stat of the night? Three Thunder players with
at least five assists. Russell Westbrook had a game-high 10. Kevin Durant and James Harden had five apiece. Ball movement was the name of the game Sunday against Orlando and the key to the Thunder’s 102-74 victory inside the Ford Center. Oklahoma City had 27 assists on 40 made baskets and 14 assists on their first 17 made field goals. This, just three games after the Thunder recorded only six assists in a nine-point loss to Portland.
The Thunder didn’t win the Fan Night vote this week, losing to the Bulls-Nuggets matchup 31 percent to 28 percent. HOWEVA, the Thunder’s on the list for next week, so go vote again for OKC’s game against the Heat.
This is a week late, but for some reason Carmelo Anthony was giving love to OKC last week: Shouts out to the whole okc. i had a wonderful time last time i was there. look forward to goin back soon. they showed me a great time.holla … Nothing but love to the whole oklahoma. real talk.”
A really interesting feature on Etan Thomas by Mike Baldwin.
Video of James Harden’s through the legs assist. And some added footage of D.J. White traveling. Evidently, the producer is a Serge Ibaka fan.
Ben from Third Quarter Collapse: “Is it gloom-and-doom time in Orlando? Almost. There’s no shame in losing to a better team–and the Thunder are the better team, when accounting for the Magic’s missing players–but there is shame in mailing in a game like this one.”
Dwight Howard says his team quit: “We haven’t had a game like this in a long time. We’d miss shots and guys would hang their heads,” Howard said. “I don’t think we should quit in a game. Seems like, as a team, we shouldn’t quit.”
Sunday, The Sentinal gave five reason to watch the Thunder.
Dime recapping last night’s game: “Is it just us or is James Harden not as big as advertised? We weren’t the first media to compare Harden to Paul Pierce when he was in college, but Harden last night he didn’t look any bigger than Redick. The rookie has game, but maybe he won’t be the powerhouse that Pierce is where he’ll be able to just punish some defenders.”
Basketbawful: “Bonus bawful: Not only did Orlando shoot a miserable 36 percent (3-for-16 from distance) and shank 13 of their 34 free throws, they let the Thunder hit nearly 60 percent of their shots and 56 percent of their treys. Were they practicing some kind of “no hand in the face” drill or something? Note also that they lost by almost 30 despite having 19 more FTAs than the Thunder.”
Kevin Durant had NBA.com’s Dunk of the Night.
A story from Friday on Kevin Durant after his tough night against the Lakers: “Durant doesn’t expect more from just himself. He wants more from his team, and for it, to justify the franchise’s direction. He expects the playoffs and beyond. “I really do,” Durant said. “That’s my job is to think my team is going to win. I can’t think anything else because I’m the captain. They feed off my energy. You have to think that before you go out there and do it.” Durant will not shy away from his job, his responsibility, his purpose with the Thunder. That’s why he was hurting so much Tuesday night. That’s why he didn’t duck his postgame duties. That’s why he’ll get better.”
Some more from The Daily Dime.
KD has nicknamed Thabo: “Kevin Durant smirked and gave Thabo Sefolosha a new nickname. “I call him ‘sniper’ now,” Durant said. Sefolosha chuckled. “I don’t know if we’re there yet,” he sheepishly said. Either way, there was no skirting around Sefolosha’s sharp shooting during Sunday’s 102-74 win over the Orlando Magic.
And finally, Nick Collison leaves us with this: “Going to my daughters preschool for parent teacher conferences. JUDGEMENT DAY.”